Theresa Anne Briggs

The world lost a beloved mother, friend and an extraordinary woman of understated elegance, Theresa Anne Briggs, on August 16, 2022. Terry passed-away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family having lived a full and beautiful life. Her family and friends knew her as loving, nurturing, caring, selfless, deeply spiritual, light-hearted, loyal, welcoming to all, never to judge, forgiving, ever optimistic, well-read, well-spoken, intellectually curious, humorous, always ready to listen, and share hopeful words complimented with a warm hug and her favorite saying, "Things will get better just around the corner." Terry was born on August 25, 1943 in Santa Monica, California to Everett and Catherine (Cogley) Lightcap. She grew up there with her two brothers and two sisters (Peter, Chuck, Patrice, and Meg) in a family filled with love, deep faith, and no shortage of laughable chaos. From a young age, Terry learned to play the piano, which led to her life-long passion for singing. She had an angelic voice and would often sing her favorites from Elvis around the house, ‘Ave Maria' at church or songs at weddings like Barbara Streisand's ‘The Rose'. Testament to her selfless nature, she started working at 15 years old at a costume shop in Los Angeles sewing the theater and Ice Capades to help support her family after her father had a heart attack. Later in life she would use those skills to make prom dresses for her daughters and their friends. Terry graduated from St. Monica's High School in 1961 and afterwards attended Santa Monica Community College. She loved basketball and ironically at five foot three she played on her college basketball team as a point guard. After her father passed away suddenly in 1962, she left college to help support her family and started working at Douglas Aircraft company. It is there that she would eventually meet the love of her life, Joseph Briggs, and within a year they were married on September 1968. Terry and Joe spent their early years together in Huntington Beach, California. They started a family in 1970 and began to raise four children. They were married for nearly 50 years until her ‘Joey' passed away in 2016. In 1976, Terry moved with her family on an adventure to Cottage Grove, Oregon, to live in a cabin in the woods. Accustomed to suburban life, she had to learn quickly how to chop wood, start a fire to keep the house warm and help take care of farm animals that her children raised for 4-H. In 1982, she moved from this tranquil rural life with her family to Norco, California, where she became a member of the community and St. Mel's Catholic Church for the rest of her life. She initially worked at the Corona Chamber of Commerce and then joined Corona Clay as the office manager where she retired after nearly 25 years. After retirement, Terry above all enjoyed spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren, close friends and singing in the St. Mel's choir. She actively participated with her husband at many Knights of Columbus charitable events. She loved going to the beach and taking trips to the beautiful coast of northern California and mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Terry was a fervent, private writer throughout her life. In her final days she wrote, "Life with my family, waterfalls of love, goodness and laughter." Terry is survived by her son Kern; her daughter Christy and her husband Paul and their children Karli and Alec; her daughter Anne and her daughter Emma; and her daughter Jennifer. She is also survived by her brother and sisters Peter, Patrice, and Meg. A Funeral Mass will be held for Terry at St. Mels Parish on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. at 4140 Corona Ave, Norco, California. There will be a viewing before mass at 10:30 a.m. Private interment will be at Riverside National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made on behalf of Theresa Briggs to Shriners Children's Hospital (shrinerschildrens.org). Visitation St. Mel's Catholic Church Tuesday 9/6, 10:30 am Cemetery Riverside National Cemetery 22495 Van Buren Blvd Riverside, CA 92518 Private Mass St. Mel's Catholic Church Tuesday 9/6, 11:30 am